Scout Theater

12:00AM - 7:30PM

Feature, Shorts, & Workshops

12:00PM - FEATURE: Never Not Yours

Dir. John Klein, Stephen Kniss

30-ish year old siblings Michael, Ellie, and James drive to their family cabin to visit their parents Jonathan and Maddie. But when their mom and dad unexpectedly announce their divorce, chaos ensues.

2:00PM- WVIA WORKSHOP 3

Storytelling Masterclass: Practical Tips to Enhance Your Work with Alexander Monelli

Get inspired and immerse yourself in all things storytelling. Whether you’re searching for a new movie idea, stuck with writer’s block, or want to learn how to tell engaging stories, this workshop will ignite your creativity and provide practical ways to enhance your storytelling in film and beyond.

Short Drama Block

4PM - 5:30PM
LORICA (14min 23sec) Dir. Benjamin Carlucci

A young priest is confronted with the horrific abuse perpetrated by a mentor.

LIMINAL (11min 27sec) Dir. Spenser Watson Spratlin

A story about a man drafting his own suicide note with the help of a particular facet of himself. While riding the elevator to his final destination, he retreats to a liminal space in his mind in order to fully process the decision he feels he has made, and prepare himself to say goodbye

PAS DE DEUX (11min 11sec) Dir. Shayna Lauren Smith

A rink janitor notices the toxic dynamic between a figure skater and his abusive coach. After catching the skater with drugs, the janitor decides to intervene.

PERIPHERY (10min 47sec) Dir. Brittany Severance and Herman E. Servatius

An introspective young man revisits his past childhood stomping grounds to piece together some memories regarding an old photograph from his childhood.

AS EASY AS CLOSING YOUR EYES (21min 43sec) Dir. Parker Croft

The story of a grieving mother who battles her addiction to a black-market drug that gives her life-like dreams about the son she lost.

5:30PM - WVIA WORKSHOP 4

Demystifying Distribution with Chris Zellers

With so many avenues to get your film in front of people today, where can you make the most impact?  In this workshop, we’ll explore the various channels available for you to distribute your films, how you can optimize it for the greatest reach, and explore some useful tools to help you in your journey. Throughout the session, we’ll see real-world case studies from WVIA’s award-winning digital short series, including VIA Short Takes and Pizza!

Main Theater

12:00PM - 7:30PM

Shorts & Student Showcase

Documentary Block 2

12PM- 2PM
ADIDAS OWNS THE REALITY (21min 28sec) Dir. Keil Orion Troisi and Igor Vamos

Prankster activists stage a shocking runway show at Berlin Fashion Week to improve conditions for garment workers in the Adidas supply chain.

HOW TO SUE THE KLAN (34min) Dir. John Beder

America’s first hate group, the Ku Klux Klan, dealt out hatred and violence for over a century without penalty – until five Black women and a young Black civil rights lawyer finally forced them to pay for their crimes. A groundbreaking 1982 civil case that established a legal precedent that paved the road for today’s fight against organized hate.

I AM MORE DANGEROUS DEAD (24min) Dir. Majiye Uchibeke

The story of a man largely unknown in the west, but who is a household name and hero to Nigerians. Ken Saro Wiwa was a prolific writer and activist who led the ethnic minority of the Ogoni to protest the devastating effects of oil exploitation on their land.

Drama Block 1

2PM - 4PM
VISIT (16min) Dir. Paulina Zając

Maria and Waldemar Nowak are visited by the Office for Foreigners unannounced to examine whether their marriage is real or fake, serving only for the legalization of stay of Édouard, who is Algerian. The decision to grant the residence card to Édouard depends on the course of the visit.

THE NAME OF ACTION (11min 23sec) Dir. Kristopher David Russin

Gina and Hannah are two young women going for the same role. One an experienced actress, the other less experienced but gifted. The film explores hard work vs natural talent, the resentment and competitiveness of the arts.

ALOO POORI (14min) Dir. Aditi Sridhar

27-year-old Sejal is on the cusp of leaving her home and mother behind, unsure if she’s scared to go, or scared to stay. Her mother Madhuri is avoiding a recent mental health diagnosis and her daughter’s departure by throwing her heart into her cooking.

BANANA TREE (15min 56 sec) Dir. Sarah Bui

Ann, a divorced woman who is diagnosed with brain cancer and has a difficult time deciding whether or not to proceed with treatments. Ann’s Dad expects her to get treatment, but she has blamed her parents for never allowing her to make her own decisions: her career, her marriage, and now her life.

SUPERMOON (7min 45sec) Dir. Chad Patrick Shannon

A slice-of-life narrative drama that follows a pandemic nurse and her unemployed husband as they search for hope in the mundane.

WHAT MAKES THE RIDE WORTHWHILE (5min) Dir. Logan Desris

Alex recounts the final memory of her sister, Cassie, as she goes through their shared birthday, alone for the first time.

PASSING (3min) Dir. Anarose Davidson

A surrealist look into the mind and emotions of a failing pre-med student. An experimental student short film.

4:00PM - WVIA STUDENT SHOWCASE

 An awards ceremony honoring the winners of the Student Showcase!

 

Thriller Block

5:30PM - 7:30PM
POOL BOY (8min 10sec) Dir. Calvin McCroy

An ambitious pool boy cleans a filthy pool on a scalding summer day. When thirst strikes he must venture into the house of the unscrupulous pool owner to quench it.

THE TRUNK (7min 47sec) Dir. Tony Susi

A determined woman struggles to offload a large, mysterious, and suspiciously heavy trunk without attracting too much attention.

FALLOUT (18min 30sec) Dir. Desiree Zielinski

A group of close friends shelter in place from an impending nuclear attack. As the world seemingly falls apart outside with one of their friends in the thick of it, the truth comes out in the end with the damage already done.

CALLS (20min 1sec) Dir. Brandon Keeton

A 911 call leads a new Police Chief to a cold case with a paranormal twist.

THE STAINED GLASS HOUSE (24min 18sec) Dir. Gregory Sazanov

Olya and her brother Igor come to the village for their grandfather’s funeral to collect the inheritance he left behind. Her cousin, Vera, desperately needs the money and is determined to find it at any cost. The lost connection with their relatives and the strange house of their grandfather will force them to see the situation differently and reveal each other’s true faces.

DEADBOLT (8min 34sec) Dir. Andy Wilczak

A chilling psychological horror short film that blurs the line between a man’s obsession with control and the supernatural forces that threaten to consume him.

EVOLUTION (7min 25sec) Dir. Michael Jacoby

Advanced technology evaluates human life, seeing who is fit for the next generation.